Lythrum portula - Water Purslane

Family:	Lythraceae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	0.2
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:	Peplis portula.
Range:	Europe, incl Britain, mainly central and northern areas but not the Arctic, east to the Caucasus.

Lythrum portula (Water Purslane) is a Annual which grows to a height of 0.2m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Water Purslane will flower in December to April. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Water Purslane will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
Water Purslane prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Water Purslane can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Muddy margins of pools and puddles, but not in calcareous soils[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a wet soil. Dislikes alkaline soils[17]. This species was formerly cultivated for its edible leaves[2]. A prostrate plant, the stem rooting as it creeps along the ground[17].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 105, 177].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or early autumn in situ.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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